Category:Kantō Region

Kantō (関東地方) is a region located on the eastern side of Honshū and is home to Japan’s largest metropolitan and economic center. The region’s cultural and historical identity has been significantly shaped by its role as the seat of political power since the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and later as the administrative nucleus of modern Japan.

Kantō is a region of contrasting landscapes: dense urban environments with global cultural influence coexist alongside agricultural plains, river basins, and mountainous border zones. While the central metropolitan area is associated with modernity and technology, the surrounding prefectures preserve rich craft traditions, particularly in ceramics, woodworking, lacquerware, and festival-related folk arts.

Craft culture in Kantō reflects both continuity and transformation. Ancient workshop centers such as Mashiko in Tochigi (known for Mashiko ware) and Kasama in Ibaraki maintain deep artisanal lineages. At the same time, contemporary craft scenes in Tokyo and Kanagawa foster innovation, blending traditional material practices with modern design aesthetics.

Kantō Region consists of seven prefectures:

• Category:Tokyo Metropolis
• Category:Kanagawa Prefecture
• Category:Saitama Prefecture
• Category:Chiba Prefecture
• Category:Ibaraki Prefecture
• Category:Tochigi Prefecture
• Category:Gunma Prefecture

• Historical center of political authority and cultural exchange since the Edo period.
• Important ceramic production centers, including Mashiko and Kasama.
• Strong presence of contemporary craft studios, galleries, and design schools.
• Well-documented traditions of festival arts, textile dyeing, and wood carving.

• Location: Eastern Honshū
• Landscape: Kantō Plain, Pacific coastline, surrounding mountain ranges
• Major cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Saitama, Chiba

• Category:Japanese Regions
• Category:Edo period (cultural development)
• Mashiko ware
• Kasama ware